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births attended
families served
Certifications & Degrees
Birthing From Within Childbirth Educator
2024
Requirements 140 hours of training in self-paced work, in-person presentations, video submission and feedback, one-on-one and group mentoring, and designing a curriculum and submitting for feedback.
Infant Feeding & Lactation Specialist
Requirements included 12 week training with Tanya Willis and Sarah Lovell at Manhattan Birth, weekly homework, case studies, group work, 2 supervised lactation visits, and a final exam.
2022
Full Spectrum Birthworker
2021
Requirements included Seven week biweekly training (14 sessions) with Ancient Song Doula Service in Brooklyn, NY, Infant CPR, bodyfeeding training and certification, HIPAA certification, social justice book reports, and 5 supervised births.
Childbirth Educator
May 2021
Requirements included submitting teaching demos for feedback and writing a full childbirth ed curriculum, plus 12 week training with Cornerstone, by Nickie & Juli Tilsner and community leaders covering anatomy, trauma-informed care, HAES, comfort measures, advocacy & more.
VBAC Doula
2020
Self-paced program through the VBAC Link on supporting trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) for those desiring a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).
Masters, Education
Dominican University
2013
Bachelors
Wellesley College, Developmental Psychology & Art History
2011
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Milad, 2024
One of Mel's strengths is that they're a great teacher. Before the birth, they taught us a one-on-one class on caring for a newborn, including skills like baby wearing. I would’ve been lost at sea without it.
Lauren B., 2024
They are incredibly knowledgeable about various pain management approaches.
Emily, 2023
Mel encouraged me to ask questions, and I did! They were always ready with sound advice and helpful reading material.
Additional Trainings & Courses
Spinning Babies Workshop
Balance the body and use gravity during labor 2022
Wild Ginger Herbal Center
Birthkeeper Program: Herbs for Fertility, Herbal Birth Bag, Gender Affirming Birth Work, Understanding Emergencies, Sacred Blessing Ceremonies, Balancing Hormones Post-miscarriage and Postpartum 2021
Divine Birth Wisdom
Grandma's Hands: Pregnancy and Postpartum Herbs in the Southern Tradition 2021
Chicago Women's Health Center
Abortion Companion Training, Loss Companion Training 2021
Evidence Based Birth
Big Babies; Due Dates; Advanced Maternal Age 2020
Institute for Birth, Breath & Death
Holding Space for Infant & Pregnancy Loss 2020
Earthseed Holistic
Plant Magic 2020